Cap frame



April 8, 1947. M, J. FORD 2,413,754

CAP FRAME Filed Sept. 10, 1945 fizalfizk azjid,

Patented Apr. 8, 1947 UN I TED STATES AT E N T O-FFiCfE' CAP FRAME .-Martin-J.LFord, Scranton, Pa. Application September 10, 1945, Serial' No.6l5391 3 Claims.

1 This invention relates to skeleton frames adapted to beinsertedintocaps and similar head coverings made of flexible material for supporting the cap in predetermined shape.

An important object of my invention is to provide a frame 'of the above character which is especially suitable for use with boys, mens and women's 'caps, and being so constructedfan'dsarrangedas to maintain the flexible'material of the cap fully expanded so as to impart to the nap-a neat and "attractive appearance.

.Another object of my invention is to provide a frame of the above character which is readily insertable into and removable from a cap and which is capable of being associated with caps of different sizes. within reasonable limits.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a frame of the above character which is simple in construction and economical in manufacture and which desirably may be sold as an accessory separately and apart from the cap with which it is adapted to be associated.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a skeleton frame showing the position it occupies relative to the cap in which it is inserted;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the frame of Fig. 1,

and

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the manner in which the radial elements are connected to the center piece.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. 1 is shown a skeleton frame I associated with the inside of a cap, indicated at 2 in phantom outline. The cap is made of fabric and provided at its front with a visor 3 composed of a stiff material.

The frame I comprises a center piece 4 of small size and located approximately so as to overlie the crown of the head. This center piece constitutes a connector for a pluralityin the present instance, eight-ribs 5 made of spring metal and extending radially from the center piece. 'As best shown in Fig. 3, each diametrically opposite pair of ribs is composed of a single strip threaded through slotted openings in the center piece. The four strips required to provide the eight radial ribs overlap each other at the middle of the center piece and are welded in place. The ribs are bowed, as best shown in Fig. 1, so as to fol low the curvature of the inside of the cap and their outer free ends are joined, as by welding, to contour strips 6 and 6a. These contour strips It will be seen from :Fig. '1 that the :contour strips -6 and 6a constitute separate 'and'disconnected'partscof a ring of'oval'shap'e, the'contour strip Bbeing adaptedtoseat against the rearportion ofthe head while the contour strip to is designedito'rest on thesforward portion-0f the-head above the forehead. The outer ends of five of the ribs -5 are connected to the contour :strip 6 while the outer =.ends of three of the ribs 5 :are connectedtothe contourstrip 6a, these ribsrbeing so bent as to generally. follow the curvature of the inside of the cap and balloon outwardly the flexible material composing the cap. The center piece 4, ribs 5 and contour strips 6 and 6a desirably are made of rustless metal, such as copper.

To prevent the frame from slipping around within the cap, strings I attached to the inside of the cap or to its inner lining are provided at suitably located places so as to admit of being tied around the ribs 5, or certain of them, to bind the cap to the frame.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the frame is so constructed'as to be readily associated with a cap. By compressing the ribs laterally with the hands and by forcing the contour strips 6 and 6a toward each other, the frame may be introduced through the opening in a cap, after which, due to the resilience of the spring metal ribs, the frame will expand and fill out the interior of the cap holding the flexible material of the cap loosely stretched over the frame. The strings I are then tied around the ribs to retain the frame in place relative to the cap. In the reverse manner, the frame may be removed from the cap when desired.

The bowed shape of the ribs 5, especially those overlying the rear portion of the head, act to support the material of the cap awayfrom the hair of the head and likewise away from any combs such as commonly are used by women to hold the hair in place. Thus,'the cap may be put on, worn and removed with virtually no ruiiling of the hair. The frame holds the flexible material of the cap fully ballooned so as to present a cap of neat and attractive appearance- Such a cap will be found especially suitable for motoring. By the term cap as used herein throughout the specification and claims i meant that type of head covering, usually provided with a visor, made principally of a flexible material having insuficient inherent stiffness to maintain its shape and in which the head covering the material of the caps largely out of contact with the hair of the head, said frame comprising a series of radially-disposed ribs made of springy material, said ribs being bowed'and corresponding in curvature generally to the curva- .ture of the inside of the cap, and contour strips connecting the ribs overlying the rear and fore parts of the head, said contour strips together constituting an interrupted ring extending adjacent the rim of the opening of the cap.

2. A skeleton frame adapted to be inserted into caps made of flexible material for holding the material of the caps largely out of contact with the hair of-the head, said frame comprising a series of radially-disposed ribs made of springy material, said ribs being bowed and corresponding in curvature generally to the curvature of the inside of the cap, and contour strips connecting the ribs overlying the rear and fore parts of the head, said contour strips together constituting an interrupted ring extending adjacent the rim of the opening of the cap, and means for detachably securing the ribs to the cap.

3. The combination with a cap made of flexible material, a frame positioned inside the cap for holding the material of the cap largely out of contact with the hair of the head, said frame comprising a series of radially-disposed ribs made of springy material and'said ribs being bowed and corresponding in curvature generally to the curvature of the inside of the cap contour strips connecting the ribs overlying the rear and fore parts of the head, said contour strips together constituting an interrupted ring extending adjacent the rim of the opening of the cap, and tie strings connected to the cap for detachably securing the frame of the cap.

MARTIN J. FORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

